The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) has launched a new call to renew, repurpose and upgrade research facilities and equipment.

This new Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funding opportunity focuses on developing the research and development capability of smaller specialist institutions (SSIs) such as GuildHE members to enhance their capacity to contribute to the UK’s thriving creative and cultural economy.

All applications to this funding opportunity must meet the following objectives, to:

• Support the development of world-class research and development capabilities, particularly in the UK’s smaller specialist institutions (SSIs)
• Improve the visibility and resilience of specialist, practice-led research sectors within the arts and humanities
• Support the UK’s creative and cultural economy.

This investment will fund three types of activity for practice-led research in eligible institutions:

• Strand one: equipment upgrade or replacement
• Strand two: refurbishment or upgrade of small to medium-sized facilities
• Strand three: new major facilities or the repurposing of major facilities.

Applicants can apply for more than one strand. However, the AHRC will only accept one application, per strand, per institution.

Funding is open to:

• SSIs
• UK higher education institutions
• Research council institutes
• UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)-approved independent research organisations
• Public sector research establishments
• NHS bodies with research capacity.

Standard AHRC eligibility rules apply.

AHRC will meet 100% of the full economic cost of projects, for all three strands.

Applicants can apply for the following maximum amounts and projects must last the following durations associated with each strand:

• Strand one: equipment upgrade or replacement. Up to £1 million for exactly three-months’ duration. The latest a project can start is 31 December 2023
• Strand two: refurbishment or upgrade of small to medium-sized facilities. Up to £3 million for around nine months duration (funding must be spent by 30 September)
• Strand three: new major facilities or the repurposing of major facilities. Up to £10 million for around 18 months duration (funding must be spent within 18 months of being awarded).

Projects should start on 1 December 2022 and no later than 31 December 2022.

Applications will be accepted from 11 July 2022.

Applications must be submitted online by the deadline 27 September 2022 (4pm UK time).

 

How To Apply

Applications will be accepted from 11 July 2022.

Applications must be submitted online via the Joint Electronic Submission system (Je-S) by the deadline 27 September 2022 (4pm UK time).

For more information, visit the UKRI website.